Apple and Google Launch Cross Platform E2EE RCS Messaging Beta

End-to-end encrypted (E2EE) Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging is being rolled out in beta between iPhone and Android handsets, closing one of the longest-running interoperability gaps in mainstream mobile messaging. Apple announced the beta rollout on May 11, with Google confirming the matching Android-side rollout. The feature is available to iPhone users on iOS 26.5 with supported carriers and to Android users on the latest version of Google Messages, with availability dependent on carrier activation.

Encrypted conversations are marked with a lock icon in the chat interface, and encryption is enabled by default, with Apple saying it will be applied over time to both new and existing RCS threads. The rollout uses the GSM Association's (GMSA) RCS Universal Profile 3.0 specification, published in March 2025, which defines how to apply the IETF's MLS protocol within the RCS standard.

According to GSMA, this marks a cross‑platform first, expanding E2EE protections beyond single-client messaging and highlighting the privacy gains while noting that impersonation and other threats remain a concern.